Highlight Reel 2009: El Camino!

I spent last May trekking through Northern Spain on the beautiful Camino de Santiago, a collection of pilgrimage trails that have been walked for over 1,000 years. I started out in Burgos, Spain with ten other Earlham women, and 350 miles (500K) and 1 month later found myself mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed, kneeling in front of the Bones of St. James in the Cathedral of Santiago.

Before the camino, "Don't take more than you can carry," seemed like a good guideline, but hiking 12-15 miles each day transformed it into a necessity. Everyone says this to the point of making it cliché, but you really don't realize how much useless junk you have in your life (both material and mental) until you go on one of these journeys. That little red backpack held everything I used for a month. I could have easily continued on for another 4 or 5 with it.

Our brief stay in Castrojeriz was probably my favorite adventure of the camino. After a long but charming walk, we came upon this view of the small village's cathedral and castle on top of the hill. This was towards the beginning of the trip- maybe the 3rd or 4th day- and while everyone else was enjoying their siesta I decided to climb to the top of the hill and explore the castle. It was totally worth the climb. Not only was the view from the castle walls priceless, but the castle itself was completely unguarded. No bars, no chains or signs telling you to keep out. Just you and the crumbling stone walls. For almost an hour I scoured every hidden nook and cranny of the ruins. The entire time I was thinking that I was one of the only Hoosiers who had ever had full access to an abandoned castle. Afterwards, I took my own siesta on top of one of the ramparts just like sleeping beauty!

So while there were many fantastic and majestic sights to see on this trip (castles, cathedrals, mountains, statues, etc.) some of the most beautiful were the simplest. People who spoke not a word of each other's language sharing meals together, steam coming off cups of tea reached only after hours of hiking in the cold rain, colorful clothes flapping in the breeze. You only experience this type of beauty if you're going slow enough to see it. Since I walked the camino, I see it almost everyday.

If there is one thing the Camino taught me, it is that you never actually "arrive" to that final destination. You may come to your self-designated endpoint, but there is always more to learn, more to observe, and more to experience beyond it.